Skin Care : Skin Care Ingredients and Their Roles

By Ray Lam

There is a lot a person has to think about when they are buying products to care for the skin. I went last week to find something for my husband, as he had been having problems with dry skin on his face. I stood there for almost a half an hour and still had no idea what I should buy, even though I do know a little about these products. I would guess that I am not the only one who has had this problem. Even worse, I know a little about the skin care ingredients that should be in a product and what can be done without. This did not make my choice any easier.

There are many claims made about what skin care products can do, and some of them are not true. Though collagen is indeed the key to healthy and smooth skin, you can't get this by applying it to the surface of the skin. If one of the skin care ingredients listed is collagen, that's all well and good, but it is not going to do much good. Collagen must come from within the body or it's not going to benefit the skin. Many claim that this helps but you can't get the benefits from a topical lotion.

Silica is a trace mineral that will make the connective tissues, such as muscles, tendons, hair, and nails, stronger. It is important for healthy skin. If there is Silica deficiency in the body, the wounds of the skin will not heal as quickly. Silica is an ingredient in many good skin care products.

Zinc is a mineral, and one of the most important components of skin that is healthy. Acne may be a result of a zinc deficiency in the body. Zinc also controls the skins production of oil and can control hormones that bring about acne. Many health care products contain zinc, as it is very beneficial to the health of the skin.

Wrinkles are a fact of life, but some get them worse than others, and some can be prevented. Just remember to see through the hype when thinking about skin care ingredients so you aren't spending a lot of money on a product that does not do what it claims.